Canada's Best welcomes its first cohort of postdoctoral fellows, powered by philanthropy
The first Canada's Best fellows have been selected. Recruited from Canada, the United States, Belgium and France, five outstanding postdoctoral researchers are joining the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (The Institute) as the program's inaugural cohort.
Launched in March 2026, Canada's Best is a competitive fellowship program built to attract exceptional early-career researchers from Canada and around the world. It runs on philanthropy: our partner foundations cover 70 per cent of each fellow's stipend, and supervising researchers contribute the remaining 30 per cent. Fellows also receive a dedicated budget for research, travel and training, with support for up to four years.
"Great science starts with great people. These five fellows are exactly the kind of talent Canada's Best was created to attract, and I can't wait to see what they accomplish here," said Dr. Rhian Touyz, Chief Scientific Officer of The Institute. "On behalf of The Institute, thank you to our foundations for believing in the next generation of research leaders."
Selected from among the best
An independent 16-member review committee, led by Dr. Indra Gupta, Deputy Director of The Institute, ranked these five fellows at the top of 31 applications from 10 countries.
"The quality of applications in this first competition was remarkable. Choosing five from such a strong international pool was not easy, and that tells you everything about the calibre of this cohort," said Dr. Gupta. "They are exactly the researchers Canada's Best was designed to attract."
Meet the fellows
Agastya Mondal
Recruited from UC Berkeley, USA · Supervisor: Dr. David Buckeridge · Supported by the MUHC Foundation
FARSIGHT is a privacy-preserving artificial intelligence system that detects respiratory infections in near real time across Québec hospitals. It aims to give public health authorities faster, more accurate insight into the true burden of respiratory illness.
Lena Faust
Recruited from McGill University, Canada · Supervisor: Dr. Nadine Kronfli · Supported by the MUHC Foundation
This is the first study to measure all six major sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) across seven Québec provincial correctional facilities, with some 1,350 participants. The findings will inform Canada's national STBBI action plan.
Simone Pancera
Recruited from KU Leuven, Belgium · Supervisor: Dr. Tania Janaudis-Ferreira · Supported by the MUHC Foundation
HELP-MILD is the first trial of a web-based home exercise and education program for mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). About 400,000 Canadians live with mild COPD and receive no structured rehabilitation.
Maurice Chery
Recruited from the University of Miami, USA · Supervisor: Dr. Justin J. Sanders · Supported by the MUHC Foundation and the Cedars Cancer Foundation
ACCESS-Women is Canada's first prospective study of how social determinants of health shape access to supportive care for women with gynecologic cancers. It will produce a toolkit that care teams across the country can adopt.
Sara Avendano
Recruited from Sorbonne Université, France · Supervisor: Dr. Tina Montreuil · Supported by the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation
This is the first multi-cohort study linking perinatal mental health to maternal heart health and child development, drawing on data from some 18,000 families. The goal is earlier screening and better support for mothers and children.
Made possible by our foundations
The MUHC Foundation, the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation and the Cedars Cancer Foundation are funding this first cohort. Their generosity gives these researchers the stability to pursue ambitious ideas at the most critical stage of their careers.
"Canada's Best is about investing in the people who will shape the future of health care. By giving exceptional young researchers the support, mentorship, and freedom to pursue bold ideas, we are helping create the conditions for discoveries that can transform patient care," said Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO, MUHC Foundation. "Philanthropy makes that possible. It allows us to attract outstanding talent, accelerate innovation, and ensure the MUHC remains a place where the next generation of research leaders can do their very best work."
"Supporting research is one of the most powerful ways to improve child health, because it can turn new discoveries into better care for children and families. That's why we are excited to welcome Canada's Best first pediatric fellow, Dr. Sara Avendano. Her research will explore how difficult experiences during pregnancy affect a mother's heart health and her child's developing brain. The findings could help prenatal care teams identify risks earlier and provide more targeted support for mothers and children. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are investing in groundbreaking research to create healthier futures for young children, families and mothers-to-be, in Montreal and around the world," said Renée Vézina, President, Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation.
"Cedars Cancer Foundation is proud to support the work of Dr. Maurice Chery, whose selection through the Canada's Best Fellowships program speaks to both his talent as a researcher and the importance of the work he'll be undertaking at The Institute," said Jeff J. Shamie, President and CEO, Cedars Cancer Foundation. "His research will help fill a real need in the healthcare system by generating evidence that can guide more equitable, patient-centred gynecological cancer care. Research like this has the potential to help ensure that every woman, regardless of her circumstances, has the best possible chance of receiving timely diagnosis, treatment, and support."
Looking ahead
Canada's Best aims to recruit up to 100 postdoctoral fellows in the coming years. Applications for the fall 2026 intake are open until October 31, 2026: apply here.
October 28, 2026
Source: The Institute